OSAKA — Hanshin Electric Railway Co.'s earnings from train fares paid by fans going to Koshien Stadium in fiscal 2000 dropped 12.5 percent from the previous year to 466 million yen.
The dismal figures were linked to last season's poor performance of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team, whose home field is Koshien, officials said, noting that attendance at Tigers games fell from the previous year.
Although the Tigers were temporarily atop of the Central League in April, the team gradually sank in the standings to finish in last place.
The firm also said revenue in the current fiscal year on its line to the newly opened Universal Studios Japan theme park is expected to reach about 40 million yen, or roughly 100,000 passengers.
Managing Director Atsushi Fujii said the estimated revenue from USJ was smaller than the firm initially expected.
"It seems West Japan Railway Co. is actively advertising its links to USJ, and perhaps visitors from far away will use JR West's trains to get there," he said.